Vinyl records keep finding new fans in San Diego, where weekend record fairs and swap meets are drawing noticeably younger crowds this summer.
Recent fairs in North Park and Ocean Beach featured dozens of vendor tables stacked with everything from dollar-bin soul 45s to sealed reissues of classic California rock albums. Neighborhood record shops say the renewed interest has been steady rather than a fad, with turntable starter kits among their most requested items.
Collectors say the appeal goes beyond sound quality: album art, liner notes and the hunt itself keep them coming back to the bins.
More fairs are planned around the county through the fall, with organizers expecting the crowds to keep growing as the format's revival rolls on.